After years of searching for the perfect headboard; I decided to be a “DIY Diva” this weekend and built one myself. All of the headboards that I have found online and fallen in love with have been way too expensive. For about $200 and what seemed like a million trips to Home Depot, I made my own. All it took was some creativity, a little craftiness, power tools, some help from Dad (okay lots of help from Dad), and about 6 hours. The end results were fantastic.

Supplies from Home Depot:

- Plywood

- Wood moulding

-  Drill

- Jigsaw

- Nails and screws

- Wood glue

- Wood appliques

- Spray adhesive

- Tacks

Supplies from the fabric store:

- 4 yards of upholstery fabric

- Batting - Buttons

- Braided trim

- Upholstery thread

- Doll needles

To create the headboard you need to get your plywood cut to size you want your headboard. You also need to cut your moudling to fit the perimeter of the headboard. Once your wood is all cut to the proper size — Place the wood moulding around the outside edges of the plywood but do not attach.

Next measure out where you want your buttons and drill holes into the plywood.

The next part is the fun part, painting! Spray paint the wood moulding and wood appliques with spray paint allow them to dry. While they are drying, go back to your plywood because its time to attach the batting.

The batting goes everywhere the wood moulding on the outside is not … Meaning, the inside where the upholstered part will be. Spray the plywood and batting with spray adhesive and attach.

Once the batting is attached you can take your headboard inside to add the fabric. Stretch the fabric across and tack it down with the tacks. Trim off the excess fabric. After the fabric is tacked down you can tack your trim to the wood moulding. Once tacked, its time to hammer the moulding to the outside edges of the headboard.

You can stop there if you want because it will look pretty good or you can take it one step further by adding the buttons. Remember those hole we drilled? Shove the doll needle (they are really long, a regular needle won’t work) through the back of the headboard. Once the needle pops through the front, sew on your button. I tied the thread off in the back and secured it with a washer.

Finally, the last finishing touch was gluing on my wood appliques with wood glue. And there you have it a Kittyville upholstered headboard.

republished from AskFashionKitty.com

I have been seeing chalkboard related products all over the place lately. The chalkboard surface definitely adds a fun, personal touch to any product. So wipe away that horrible memory of your teacher scratching his/her nails down the chalkboard because there is a whole new crop of chalkboards in town. These chalkboards aren’t anywhere near a classroom either. You can find this new breed of chalkboards on candles, mugs, wine glasses, and more!

 

Hey, Etsy, Indiepublic, and 1000 markets sellers and other Indie users, we would love for you to use our site to showcase your items and we’re always looking for the next “it” product, which may just be that hot laptop cover or the rad steam punk ring YOU made. We know you are creative, talented and the next trendsetters, and we’d love to help you connect with consumers that are out there looking for unique items.

To be a successful ThisNext Handmade user we ask that you follow a few guidelines:

1. Firstly, and most importantly, recommend in a ratio of 3 to 1. Meaning you recommend three items from other sources on the web to each item of your own creation. (You may, if you would like, put your own items in lists that promote them as your own to organize your page, or you can have them throughout multiple lists.) We ask this because
a) more content on our site means more search options, higher ratings for the site - more people looking at your products.
b) users appreciate pages that are flushed out and may not be as receptive to items that appear to be completely from one site. (your page will look more organic - There is synergy in recommending a new blackberry and a great handmade blackberry holder that you made in the same space.)

2. Pimp your profile. ThisNext users get to know you and your personality, through not only your recommendations but through your profile. Your content will look better if you fill out your profile and spiff up your page (organize your items into lists). Would-be customers appreciate having a background to their handmade purchases. Including personal pics is also appreciated by customers. (Also we cannot include you in any promotions - like our newsletters - if you do not have a picture in your profile)

3. Clearly tag your items. To get your products more clearly integrated into our search, tag your items precisely and clearly. Just think, the more accurate tags the more users will be directed to your content. Remember to include tags like “etsy”, “handmade”, “unique” and colors/fabrics/materials, and obvious tags like “laptop cover”, “jewelry”, “hat”.

4. Take clear and detailed pictures of your products. This is fairly self explanatory, but white backgrounds look best on our site.

5. Clearly describe your product in the recommendation. If would-be customers can’t see or understand your product they will certainly not be actual customers. Remember while writing a description to be specific in what your product does - a poster and a t-shirt may look the same in a picture, or you might have a brilliant corkscrew that is disguised as something else, so be clear.

ThisNext wishes you luck and looks forward to seeing your items throughout our site!

Sitting in an office all day on a Friday can make any employee go crazy. It is practically the weekend which means it’s time to kick off those shoes and relax. Unless, your mischievous and can’t wait for the fun to begin. Then, you can find some alternative uses for office supplies and I don’t mean arts and crafts. What I’m talking about is pranks. Any standard office supply can be turned into a fun harmless prank to play until it’s time to clock out and go home for the weekend. I’m not giving away any ideas or telling anyone to do anything but with this list of prank materials, the possibilities are endless!

With the real estate market as bad as it is, people are scrambling to get the best return on their investment. Two places where you can add the most value to your property via home improvements are the bathroom(s) and the kitchen. They have a profound impact on potential buyers and often can make or break a deal. You can expect to recoup 75% to 80% of the home improvement cost upon the sale of the property. I recently remodeled both bathrooms in my condo and with prudent materials sourcing, was able to complete the projects at a fraction of their expected costs. If you’re money-conscious and anticipate a bathroom remodel, here are some items that you should consider purchasing:

Stuff to remodel your bathrooms with
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Moving is pretty much a dirty word. We all dread it but you gotta do what you gotta do. This ThisNexter is no stranger to the process as I’ve been a student for the last 4 years and have enjoyed living in 4 different apartments over that span. And frankly folks, you can accumulate a ton of stuff without even realizing it. So whether it’s moving for a new job or because your cranky landlord won’t take care of the bed bug situation in your complex, you’re going to need a few things to get you through your big relocation. So fret not, ThisNext has compiled its expert knowledge to create a list of things that will get you through your move stress-free and will minimize your broken dishes and/or lost items. Check them out here:

The red letter day has arrived. Today is my last day at ThisNext, and the separation anxiety is already setting in. I used to cry when I was away from my Mom for too long. Who knows what will happen when I’m away from my ThisNext family for too long.

Although it is a very unfortunate parting, I did find one upside to my leaving. I get to shop for all of the personalized photo gifts I want! That way, even when I’m not in the office I can still look down at my coffee mug and see Mateo’s, Lauren’s, Kristie’s, and Cory’s inspiring faces looking back at me. Or perhaps I’ll buy photo wallpaper of the view from my desk at ThisNext, so even at home I can feel like I’m at work! Perfect!

In light of my excitement, I went hunting around the internet for the best personalized photo products out there. Turns out there are way more options today than there were in the past. Today you can get your photos printed on just about anything, including boxer shorts, wrapping paper, and even Lazy Susans. With such a wide variety of products to choose from, there’s no reason NOT to indulge in one (a sweatshirt with a photo of your dog on it, perhaps?). And even better, they provide an endless supply of great gift ideas for everyone in your life. There are gifts for family, friends, even teachers and coaches. And they work for any and all occasions, including weddings, holidays, Father’s and Mother’s days, Christmas, birthdays, and even unbirthdays.

I picked my favorites of these photo gifts for my list and even designated some of them as gifts to my glorious co-workers. Soon to be ex co-workers. Ah! The agony. At least I’ll have a 12 month calendar of ThisNext photos so I’ll never feel too far away.

Check out my list below and pick out your own favorite gifts!

So yesterday was a slow day and this ThisNexter settled in to watch one of the billion CSIs  that are on at any given time. To my surprise it wasn’t the same old thing and I actually learned something (and no, it wasn’t that they never turn on a light when they enter a dark crime scene). This episode of CSI: New York was all about the real world killing of a woman who was a cyber celebrity in the virtual world game Second Life. The twist: she was dressed up as her avatar. This is something called cosplay or costume play. The twist: it isn’t just about dressing up - it is about taking on the personality of the character you are dressing up as. It is particularly common in Japan and among anime fans. Cosplay popping up more and more in Second Life circles - especially among those users that chose to design their avatars to look unusual and not like themselves. People are getting scary good at replicating the unreal! Just check out the photo. 

So how do you get involved in this burgeoning culture? Step one is obviously to create an avatar or pick another character you’d like to emulate then you need to get some gear! This is where ThisNext comes in -  Here are a few things to get you started! 

Back in the elementary school days, arts and crafts meant pipe cleaners, glitter, cotton balls, popsicle sticks and more. Nowadays, we’re a little more grown up and looking to branch out with our creative craft skills. That’s where DIY (do it yourself) crafts and hobbies come in. DIY crafts are terrific for almost anything - gifts, decoration, and utility - and don’t break the bank. They’re pretty much guaranteed to fit your style because you made it! You’ll usually end up with a really neat product (after a few tries…) that you can show off. Check out some of the crafty lists we have going on here at ThisNext and in no time, you’ll be your own DIY craft master!

A lot of stuff often shows up on the doorstep of ThisNext but this was the biggest box that has been delivered here to date. By the way, with the funniest warning written on it that we have ever seen:  “I suggest you don’t unpack the box until you are ready”.  With a warning like that OF COURSE we were ready.

We opened the box and a whole bunch of wooden pieces came out.  We were confused.  Once we found the instruction sheet that explained what the product was, we were ready to build.

I mean, we had never built a zoo cage before but we were up for the challenge.

The assembly was simple … for the team, FashionKitty just sat back and watched. The end result was quite cool … a giant wooden zoo cage to hold toys.  Of course we don’t have that many toys here at the office so FashionKitty climbed inside. 

Just another Friday at ThisNext!  Check out the Beaver Works Zoo Toy Cage here>> 

Are you in to the “ugly”? I mean ugly dolls. Because I’ve been a fan of the “ugly” for quite some time…it started with the treasure troll. Remember those ugly faced trolls from the 90’s with ugly faces and crazy afros? I honestly wasn’t obsessive over them but I had two little miniature troll dolls and I still have them. One has a guitar and rainbow mohawk and the other is a “baby troll” with a huge fuschia afro. Alas…they are sort of like collectible and appear on pint glasses…pretty ugly but pretty cool stuff.

Let me introduce you to the new “uglies” in town they are called the “Ugly dolls” and apparently they’re here to stay! They are ugly and they are cute as hell! Confuzzled yet? Don’t be. You’ve seen them. They look like something you might have made in arts in crafts or learned to stitch together from that D.I.Y. book you picked up at Michael’s Art Store, but no…the ugly is no mistake and tho the success of the Ugly doll was not intentional it has been quite successful.

 

Here’s a quick snippet from xk9.com to fill you in on the beginnings of the “ugly doll phenomenon”:
” The story of the birth of the Ugly doll is a legend in designer toy lore. David Horvath sent doodles as part of love letters to his girlfriend Sun-Min Kim, whose visa situation had forced her to return to her native Korea. In reply, Sun-Min fashioned one of the characters, the apron-clad Wage (to my knowledge the only Uglydoll who is also a Freemason) and sent to David as a gift. Soon the couple were reunited in Los Angeles and they began to make some of these plush uglies by hand. The first were sold at Giant Robot’s flagship store on Sawtelle.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you don’t have one of these ugly dolls in your possession…get one! I use my larger “Ugly” as a pillow and have given many of these awesome plush uglies as gifts…they’re always a hit!

Because you can never be too organized! Here are 18 products that will help you keep your resolution …

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. You’re serious about this one, so drugstore chocolate in a heart-shaped box won’t cut it, but you definitely want to treat your girlfriend like a lady - problem is, you’re something of a tramp in the financial sector. What to do? Easy; whip up a romantic, DIY-style Valentine’s Day dinner with a twist. This little kit is sure to blow her mind and preserve your wallet - and save you the time it would actually take to do it yourself.

Carving pumpkins is cool — if you have the right tools. Nothing is scarier than reaching your hand in a giant pumpkin filled with gook and pouring your blood, sweat and tears into it with lackluster results. Hopefully this list will have you heading into the right direction.

I just ran across this recommendation on ThisNext and was blown away by a combination of cuteness and coolness.  These scarves by Twinkie’s Fridge make me wish it was cold outside. 

These super cool scarves were all started based on an obsession with food, so instead of living in the fridge … Twinkie Chen created the “food” with yarn (yum).  The first scarves she made were ice-cream themes, like Rocky Road.  Then she went on to bigger, more filling foods such as french fries and sushi.  I get full just by looking at her site; she has cookies, cupcakes, popsicles, spaghetti and meatballs, a green salad, and even little plushie tater tots.

All of Twinkie Chan’s scarves are handmade and one-of-a-kid; so when you see one you like you need to act fast or else you will be sh*% out of luck!   And once you purchase one of these babies take care of it (I mean she did work very hard to create these); you will need to gently hand-wash it and lay it flat to dry. 

Now who’s hungry?

 

Omg, it’s a Mr. T miniature plushie doll and it’s fabulous.

First recommended by ThisNext user animeg3282 who’s need for this doll is so serious … “I would like a little Mr. T to help me pity fools.”  I couldn’t agree more, which is why I recommended it myself immediately after.

This mesmerizing little doll comes from a very creative Etsy seller, Kezzaroo.  And I should warn you, that according to her Etsy page there is only 1 doll left in stock, maybe if we love the little doll enough she will make more.  The Mr. T miniature is 3 inches tall from “toe to fro” (that Kezzaroo is hysterical), he even comes on a pin so you can sport him on your most bad-ass outfit, and he is adorned in gold plated chains … only the finest for Mr. T.  

The doll/ kick-ass accessory is only $14.00, so if you think you are bad enough…get the last one then recommend it on ThisNext so everyone can be jealous of you. 

As one of the last five or so people on the planet who still occasionally write actual letters, I’m into fun paper. I steal hotel notepads, collect Sanrio stationery, pick up postcards at Venice Beach to send off even though I’m not on vacay. So a dream gift would be One Good Bumblebee’s Pile of Paper. For 25 smackers you get a one-of-a-kind collection of vintage paper stuff, possibly including greeting cards, antique photographs, postage stamps, illustrations, matchbooks, postcards, medical papers, labels, ledgers, diagrams, paper dolls, and maps. And right now, if you buy one Pile of Paper, you’ll get a second one free. The offer’s only on for five days, so fly thee to the Bumblebee fast as you can.

Truth be told: I wasn’t totally sold on that whole marriage thing until I stumbled upon these sweeter-than-sugar-frosting cake toppers from Ann Wood. But now I’m 100 percent for getting hitched, so long as it means getting to have the cutest cake ever baked.

Discovered at Oh Joy, the birdie brides and grooms are made from “mostly vintage” and antique fabrics, trims, and laces that Ann salvages from old wedding dresses and gowns that have “become to fragile and wretched to be worn.” Check Ann’s blog for images of one of her most recent and Miss Haversham-reminiscent finds.

Like a total high schooler, I still keep all my ticket stubs wedged into the grooves at the edges of my full-length mirror. (I’m currently even displaying tickets from shows I never went to, like the 1990 Jane’s Addiction stub I found on the street in Greenwich Village last year.)

Should I ever decide to get a little neater with my show-offiness, the best way to go would be the Ticket Stub Diary created by Eric Epstein. With 118 sleeves of all shapes and sizes, the journal would let me store the stubs for everything from Tiffany in ‘87 to Nirvana in ‘93 to Coachella ‘05. And right up front would be Madonna’s 1990 Blonde Ambition tour, which my seventh-grade self still hasn’t quite gotten over.

Octopi are the new owls, according to Gen Art Pulse. And while I still give a hoot about the birds of prey cutely featured in Keep Company’s Owl Sweatshirt and Leviticus Jewelry’s Retro Owl Charm Necklace, I’m also hoping to get my measly two arms around these cephalopod-inspired treasures: A Rare Bird’s Octopus Love tote (cherry-red vinyl with felt cutouts), boygirlparty’s olive Inky Octopus t-shirt (on yummy-soft American Apparel tee), and the Jennifer Ackerman Octopus #1 necklace selected by Gen Art.